Gear-shift mechanism



April 22 1924. 1,491,283

J. S. ALSPAUGH GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM Filed Dec. 11 1920 paizgh 55- BY m QM/ 4 Av' ATTORNEYJ.

Fatented Apr... 2.122,

metres JAMES E. ALESPAUGH, 0Z8 POETSMDUTH, OHIO. V

GEAR-SHIFT Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1.. JAMES S. Ansrausn,

No. 1,257,06 and in my application for patent filed November 14, 1917, S. h 0. 201,889, andthe patent to be issued thereon.

The object of the invention generally, is to provide a simplified construction in which is avoided the necessity for added hand-setting mechanism to determine which of the gear shift rods is to be operated and in which the operation of the gear shift mechanism is performed and controlled wholly by the foot and the motion or absence of motion of the vehicle.

The invention as herein. exemplified, is more especially applicable to motor vehicles having a clutch and gear shift mechanism such as used, for example, in the Cadillac car. in referring to the various positions of the rods and speeds obtained with such a gear shift mechanism 1 shall denominate them as low, intermediate, high and reverse. in such mechanism the propeller shaft either drives the vehicle, or the motion of the vehicle, as. in coasting down hill, drives the propeller shaft. lln the present instance I utilize the motion of the propeller shaft to lock the low and reverse gee shift rod and unloclr the intermediate and high speed rod, so that when the Vehicle is at rest the low and reverse gear shift rod is free to be operated; but when the car is in forward motion the intermediate and high gear shift rod are free to be operated.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof Figure 1 is an end elevation of the case or frame for the gear shift rods showing a lock for the rods and mechanism for actuating the same, a part being broken out and the propeller shaft being in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line Ill-ill Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a plan View with parts in section on a smaller scale and broken out at HI CHANISM.

aerial 'sl'o. 38,027.

the middle showing the lock that is actuated by the propeller shaft and a second look for holding one of the gear shift rods in neutral position when the other is moved from neutral position. i

In the views 8 and 9 are the usual gear shift rods mounted in a box-like frame, the rod 8 being that for actuatin the speed change gear to secure intermediate and high speeds and the rod 9 being that to secure low and reverse. in the present instance, however, the rod 9 at its end is provided with a notch 3 and a cutaway portion 9 extending rearward from the notch and the rod 8 with notch 8* with a cutaway por tion 8 extending forward from said notch.

The notches and cutaway portions face toward each other and in the wall of the boxlilre frame is a latch piece 29 adapted to be shifted to engage either notch but not both at the same time.

2O designates a second latch in the forward wall of the box-like frame. This latch has beveled ends to enter notches 8 and 9 in the rods 8 and 9. This latch is of such length that it is held engaged with either of the notches it occupies after the other rod is moved.

Secured on the propeller shaft 55 to 1'0- tate therewith is a spur gear 10 meshing with a smaller spur gear 11 carried in a yoke 12 loosely encircling the propeller shaft. The smaller gear 11 turns loose on its shaft 13, the latter being pinned to the yolre. The yohelQ is connected with the latch by means of a stout flexible wire 1a passed through a tube 15 so that when the yoke is swung to the left (Fig. 1) the latch is pushed to the right. The yoke is-also connected with a stationary part by means of a spring 18 tending normally to hold the latch engaged with the shaft 8. The oscilla tion of the yoke is limited in both directions by means of the looped end of a wire 16 engaging a slot 1'7 in the upper end of the yoke. tion the propeller shaft rotates anti-clockwiseor in a direction of the arrow on Fig. 1. it follows that the propeller shaft is not rotated until the i low or reverse are engaged. When at rest the parts are in the position shown in the views that is the low and reverse rod 9 is free to be operated. When the low is engaged the propeller shaft is turned in the direction of the arrow and the yoke moved to the left as far as per- W hen the vehicle is in forward Ino- I mitted by slot 17 thereby disengaging the latch 29 from rod 8 and impinging it against flat portion 9 of rod 9, but in position to prevent movement of that rod to reverse until the vehicle is first brought to rest. When the vehicle is at rest'the rod is free to be moved into reverse because latch 29 Was retracted by spring 18. The engagement in reverse does not operate the yoke because of the stop 16 in slot 17. After the rod 9 has been shifted into low the rod 8 is free to be moved rearward into second or intermediate. In this movement the rod 9 is restored to neutral position. Vt hen the rod 8 is shifted the latch 20 is automatically thrown by reason of the beveling contact into engagement with the rod 9 and When the rod 8 is restored to neutral, the operation of rod 9 in like manner throws latch 20 into engagement with rod 8. 'Ihus when either rod has been shifted from the neutral position the other is latched from movement and neither rod can be shifted from neutral unless the other is in or is brought to neutral position.

Anysuitable means can be employed for shifting the rods and the forms of the parts can be changed Without departing from the invention as claimed.

What I claim is z 1. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism thecombination With a pair of gear shifting rods, a latch for said rods, means geared with the propeller shaft for actuating said latch in one direction and a spring for actuating said latch in the opposite direction. 7

2. In amotor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination With a pair of gear shifting rods, a latch for said rods, means geared Withthe propeller shaft for actuating said latch in one direction and a spring for actuating said latch in the opposite direction and means whereby the actuation of said latch by the propeller shaft is limited;

3. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination With a pair of gear shifting rods, a latch for said rods and means controlled by the operation of the propeller shaft for actuating said latch to lock either or said rods and release the other rod and a second latch actuated automatically by the movementof the released rod to latch the other rod in neutral position.

4:. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination with a pair of gear shitting rods having latch receiving portions and cutaway portions extending in opposite directions therefrom, a latch for said rods, means geared with the propeller shaft for actuating said latch in one'direction and a spring for actuating said latch in the opposite direction.

5. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination With a pair of gear shifting rods, a latch for said rods, means geared with the propeller shaf for actuating said latch in one direction, a spring actuating said latch in the opposite direction and means whereby the actuation of said latch by the propeller shaft and spring are limited.

6. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination With a pair of gear shitting rods, a latch for said rods and means geared With the propeller shaft for actuating said latch to lock either of said rods and release the other, means for preventing the latching of the released rod by said latch until such rod is brought to neutral position, and a second latch actuatcd automatically by the movement of one rod from neutral position to latch the other in neutral position.

7. In a motor vehicle speed changing mechanism, the combination With a pair of gear shifting rods, a latch for said rods and means controlled by the operation of the propeller shaft for actuating said latch to lock one of said rods.

JAMES S. ALSPAUGH. 

